Metal bottom bag



H. P. CAMPBELL METAL BOTTOM BAG June 5, 1945.

Filed July 3, 1944 Patented June 5, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEMETAL BOTTOM BAG Hugh P. Campbell, Dallas, Tex.

Application July 3, 1944. Serial No. 543,373

(Cl. o-50) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in metal-bottombags.

Heavy duty metal-bottom fabric bags are now in common use. Such bags areused among other things for carrying ice, but of course may be used 5for transporting and containing various commodities. The art is not anew one and has shown considerable development in the production offabric bags with removable metal bottoms. However, an examination ofthese various bags demonstrates that prior to my invention, no one baghas been produced which includes all of the desirable and necessaryfeatures to provide a simple, efficient and economical structure, aswell as one having lasting qualities and satisfactorily meeting alldemands.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an improvedfabric bag having a removable metal bottom in which gadgets andsuperuous appurtenances are eliminated and 2 The wherein the removablemetal bottom is attached to the fabric bag in a simple and sturdymanner, whereby the bottom may be readily removed and also, the bageither adequately repaired or replaced.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fasteningfor removably securing the bottom of the bag to the lower edge portionof the fabric bag, whereby it is not necessary to perforate or cut thefabric bag or otherwise injure the fabric in attaching said metalbottom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved andsimple hoop for fastening the fabric bag to the metal bottom, wherebythe use of expensive tools and rivets or other permanent fasteningelements is precluded and also, whereby the attachment and removal ofthe metal bottom may be easily and expeditiously performed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforced handle forthe bag involving certain new and novel features which will behereinafter more particularly pointed out.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing,

wherein an example of the invention is shown` and wherein:

Fig. l is an elevation of a bag constructed in accordance with theinvention,

same,

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the 55 Fig. 3 is apartial vertical sectional view of the bottom of the bag,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the wall of the. bagshowing the reinforced handle plate secured thereto,

Fig. 5 is a detail of the fastening hoop, partly in elevation and partlyin section, and

Figs. 6 and are details of a modified form of hoop fastening.

In the drawing, the numeral III indicates the fabric portion of the bagand Il, the removable metal bottom. It is customary to make the bagportion I0 of heavy fabric such as duck, which is sometimes referred toas canvas Except as to the portions hereinafter described, the bazportion I0 may be made of any suitable materia: and in any suitablemanner; however, such bags. are usually made comparatively long or highand water-proof material is frequently employed. upper end of the bagmay be provided with the usual draw string I2, whereby it may be closedor spread to a full open position, but the details of this portion ofthe bag are unessential.

One feature of the invention is that the bag portion I0 is preferablymade in the form of a rectilinear cylinder with no reduction orexpansion of its diameter at its lower end but may assume other shapes.The lower edge of the fabric portion I0 is folded inwardly and asubstantial portion thereof is turned upwardly to form a comparativelydeep hem I3, which is secured to the inner face of the portion Ill by a,circular row of stitches I4, contiguous to the upper edge thereof. Anannular core rope I5 is confined in the fold of the hem so as to producean annular bead I6 around the lower edge of the fabric portion. By thisarrangement not only is a substantial hem provided in a simple andeconomical manner, but the lower edge of the bag portion Il) isreinforced and adequately finished; also only a single row of 'stitchesis required.

The metal bottom II is made generally in the form of an annular tray orpan and may be produced in any suitable manner; however, the uprightwall Il of the bottom is made substantially perpendicular and is fx'eefrom openings or perforations. An annular groove I8 is formed or rolledin the upright wallor annular rim I1 of the bottom, a short distancebelow its upper edge. The formation of this groove is very important andit will be observed that the wall of the rim is gradually curved intothe groove to form rounded intersections I9. When the lower edge or hemof the fabric portion I0 is secured in the groove, the fabric may bendaround these intersections Il andthusbefreefromcontactwithsharpedges orabrupt turns which would injure the fabric or cause it to unduly wear.

Therim i1 ofthebottom Il isinsertedinthe lower end of the bag portion iland a split metal hoop 'is applied. The parts are so positioned thatwhen the hem is displaced into the groove Il the bead il will beimmediately below the hoop 20 and will contact with the'undersidethereof and prevent the hem from slipping upwardly between the rim andthe hoop. Further, by this arrangement, it will not be necessary to sotightly securethefabricinthe grooveastoinjureor weaken it. As the loadcarried by the bag will be largely sustained by the bottom I i, it isobvious that when the bag is lifted, the fabric portion Il will bestretched or tensioned and although there may be a tendency for the hemto pull upwardly between the groove Il and the hoop 20. any suchmovement will be checked by the bead il. therefore, if the hem shouldnot be tightly clamped in the groove, it will not, even under a veryheavy load be displaced or pulled therefrom.

In order to provide a simple fastening for the split hoop 20. its endsmay be cut back to form overlapping tongues or ears 2i provided withscrew-threaded apertures 22 adapted to register when the tongues arebrought together and to receive a fastening screw 23 which has its headcountersunk in one of said tongues. To facilitate drawing the tonguestogether the hoop is provided with sumps 24 for receiving a suitabletool, whereby the hoop may be drawn into proper position so that theapertures 22 will register and the screw 23 may be readily inserted.'I'his form of ftening is substantially flush with the surface of thehoop and thus avoids any projections on the outer surface of the hoopwhich might be objectionable. Further, as the rope core I5 may be largeenough to cause the bead It to project outwardly beyond the hoop 2li.said bead4 would act more or less as a cushion and prevent the hoop fromcoming in contact with obstructions engaged by said bead.

It is obvious that various types of hoops and hoop fastenings could beemployed and while the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 ispreferable, I have illustrated another form in Figs. 6 and '1. In thislatter form the ends of the split ring are reduced and bent outwardly toform lugs 2l. These lugs are externally shaped so as to form a circularstructure when brought together and are provided with screw threads 2Oso that they may be fastened together by screwing a nut 21 thereon. Thisnut may be comparatively thin and the lugs 25 may be comparativelyshort. It will be observed that when the ends of the hoop are reducedand bent, recesses 28 will be produced and thereby the nut may bescrewed inwardly so as to have a limited projection from the hoop.

Bags of the character described are frequently made comparatively longor high, as for instance a bag for carrying 100 pounds of ice will standapproximately 30 inches high. Substantial handles must be provided forsuch bags and I have illustrated such a handle in the drawing. Elongatecompanion plates il are secured to the'inner and outer faces of thefabric portion l0 by means of grommets I2 extending therethrough andupset in the usual manner. These grommets provide eyes placedcircumferentially of the bag and a loop handle 33 formed of heavy ropehas its ends passed inwardly through the eyes and provided with knots 3lwhich engage the inner plate 3| and hold the handle against outwarddisplacement. The plates distribute the load and the loop handle isreadily replaceable when worn or broken.

The romovable bottom structure possesses many advantages which combineto make the bag more serviceable and durable as well as contributing toa comparatively low manufacturing cost and quantity production, with theresult that the user is provided with a better bag at-a moderateexpense. By making the rim I3 of the metal bottom I I substantiallyperpendicular or vertical and by placing the groove Il a substantialdistance below the upper edge of said rim, as well as providing therounded portions IS, wear of the lower portion of the bag is reduced toa minimum because the lower portion of the bag is not bulged outwardlyor caused to bend or stretch around beads or other projections at theupper end of the bottom; also when the bag is loaded, the fabric portionIll hangs perpendicularly when the bag is lifted and merely restsagainst the smooth face of the rim I1. By providing the rope bead Il andpermitting the latter to contact the underside of the hoop 20, thegreater portion of the load may be carried by this arrangement, ratherthan by too tightly clamping of the fabric portion Il in the groove I8.

The hoop may be easily and expeditiously applied or removed withoutcutting or injuring the fabric portion l0. In any bag of this type, thegreatest wear is likely to occur just above the metal bottom becausethis portion of the bag will be subjected to more abuse and contactswith obstructions. Due to the fact that it is not necessary to shape thelower end of the portion l0, it is obvious that upon wear, the wornportion may be cut off and a. new rope reinforced hem provided on theremainder. Because only one row of stitches is involved, the operationis made simple.

As before pointed out, the hoop need not be fastened so tightly as toinjure or weaken the fabric. If a hole is punched in the fabric portionor it is torn or cut, particularly adjacent the metal bottom, saidbottom may be removed by the ordinary workman and the bag patched orrepaired. While the rope core l5 is loosely confined at the bottom ofthe hem I3, it will be securely held in place when the fabric portion isfastened to the bottom of the hoop.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made. within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bag of the character described including, a removable metal bottomhaving a vertically extending flange therearound provided with a singleoutwardly facing circumferential groove, a tubular fabric body memberhaving its lower end provided with an inwardly turned hem portion. meanswithin the hem portion for enlarging the same, said tubular body memberbeing disposed over the vertically extending flange of the bottom withthe enlarged hem portion disposed so as to lie below, but closelyadjacent to said groove, and binding means engaging the body memberabove the enlarged hem portion thereof so as to force the fabric of thebody into said groove and to prevent upward movement of the body andthereby the enlarged hem portion of the latter between the wall definingthe groove and the binding means, whereby to prevent separation of thefabric body and metal bottom.

2. A bag of the character described including a metal bottom portionhaving a vertically extending annular ange provided with a singleoutwardly facing circumferential groove, a tubular fabric body memberhaving its lower end turned inwardly and stitched thereto to provide ahem portion, means within and extending substantially around the hem forenlarging the bight portion thereof, said tubular body member beingdisposed over the vertically extending annular ange ofthe bottom withthe enlarged bight portion of the hem lying below but closely adjacentto the groove and with the upper inturned edge and the stitching lyingabove, but closely adjacent to the upper edge of the ange so as toprovide the body member with a double thickness where the same engagesand overlies said flange, and binding means engaging the body memberabove the enlarged bight portion of the hem to move the same into thegroove and to prevent upward movement of the body and thereby theenlarged bight portion of the hem between the wall deiining the grooveand the binding means.

HUGH P. CAMPBELL.

